1. Flint River
The Flint River in Michigan gained international attention during the Flint water crisis. Decades of industrial pollution, combined with government mismanagement, left residents with unsafe drinking water and a river that’s still far from healthy.
2. Mississippi River
The mighty Mississippi carries a heavy burden as one of the most polluted rivers in the world. Agricultural runoff, including fertilizers and pesticides, flows into the river, creating dead zones where aquatic life can’t survive. It’s a sad irony for a river that’s so central to American culture and commerce.
3. Ohio River
Stretching over 900 miles, the Ohio River has long been a dumping ground for industrial chemicals. This river consistently ranks as one of the most polluted in the U.S., with toxins like mercury and PCBs making it hazardous for both wildlife and people.
4. Cuyahoga River
Famously, the Cuyahoga River in Ohio caught fire multiple times in the mid-20th century due to oil and chemical pollution. While cleanup efforts have improved its condition, it remains a cautionary tale about the dangers of industrial waste.
5. Hudson River
The Hudson River in New York suffers from decades of contamination by PCBs, courtesy of General Electric. Though some progress has been made, the legacy of toxic pollution means the river still isn’t safe for swimming in many areas.
6. Potomac River
The “Nation’s River,” flowing through Washington, D.C., faces pollution from urban runoff, agricultural waste, and outdated sewage systems. Despite its iconic status, the Potomac struggles with harmful algal blooms and declining fish populations.
7. Anacostia River
Known as Washington, D.C.’s “forgotten river,” the Anacostia has suffered from sewage overflows and toxic waste for decades. Efforts to restore it are ongoing, but its murky waters tell the story of long-standing neglect.
8. Gowanus Canal
Technically more a canal than a river, Brooklyn’s Gowanus is infamous for its toxic cocktail of sewage, industrial chemicals, and trash. Despite cleanup efforts, it’s still one of the most polluted waterways in the U.S.
9. Colorado River
The Colorado River is essential to life in the arid West, but it faces severe pollution from agricultural runoff and salinity. Combined with overuse and drought, its health is in dire straits, threatening millions of people who depend on it.
10. Illinois River
Flowing through the heart of the Midwest, the Illinois River is plagued by agricultural runoff, which feeds harmful algae blooms. These blooms deplete oxygen levels, devastating aquatic life and creating a domino effect throughout the ecosystem.
11. Rio Grande
Straddling the U.S.-Mexico border, the Rio Grande is drying up—and what remains is heavily polluted. Agricultural runoff, untreated sewage, and industrial waste combine to make this once-proud river a shadow of its former self.
12. Los Angeles River
More concrete channel than natural waterway, the Los Angeles River has long been an urban dumping ground. Industrial waste and stormwater runoff have left it severely polluted, though revitalization projects offer some hope.
13. Tennessee River
The Tennessee River is burdened by toxic runoff from coal ash ponds, agricultural chemicals, and industrial waste. These pollutants not only harm aquatic life but also pose risks to the millions who rely on it for drinking water.
14. Sacramento River
California’s Sacramento River is essential for agriculture, but it’s also a victim of it. Pesticides, fertilizers, and mercury from historic gold mining operations have left this vital waterway in a precarious state.
15. Susquehanna River
As one of the longest rivers in the eastern U.S., the Susquehanna provides water to millions, but it’s struggling under the weight of agricultural runoff and sewage overflows. These pollutants fuel algal blooms and threaten fish populations.
